Landscape by Allan Block 2006

7/28/2019 Landscape by Allan Block 2006

1/22

2006 All an Block Corporation, 5300 Edina Industr ial Blvd., #100,Edin a,M N Phone 952-835-5309, Fax 952-835-0013,US Pat.#4,909,010 & #5,484,236 Canadi an Pat. #2,012,286 & #2,133,675 Aust rali an Pat.#682,394 & #133,306Taiwan Pat #NI -090824 A B Courtyard Pat. #6,948,282,Int l and Other Patents Pending Doc L0631-0606


2/22

Euro

For over 15 years Al lan Block has been helpi ng

landscape professionals and homeownersreali ze the landscape of their dr eams.

For the best

landscape w

always use

Al lan Block

For the best

landscape w

always use

Al lan Block

The Allan Block family of produc ts have been developed a nd

enginee red to deliver crea tive landsca pe solutions. With over 100

million Allan Block units installed worldwide, you can feel confident

you are making the right choic e.

All an Block Advantages

Allan Block walls require no foundation and lock together

without pins, clips or mortar. The front lip creates a built-in

setback and the hollow core makes them easy to handle,

easy to stack a nd p romotes built-in drainage.

All an Block Performance

Ask your local AB Dealer about the HOW TO INSTALL DVD for Landsca pe

Walls up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) high. The dvd features animation a nd video s

demonstrating step-by-step instructions for building landscape walls.

For taller walls chec k out our ABInstallation Guide. Visit our web site at

allanblock.com for additional information.

All an Block Supporting M aterials

Table of Contents

Choose the Righ t Block.

Allan Block units are available in a variety of sizes, weights,

setbacks and finishes to meet differing aesthetic and

performance needs. Refer to the chart below to helpmake the right choice for your project.

Al lan Block M akes It Easy!Our blockCollectionsgive you a choice of styles.

Europa - Old Wo rld Antique

Ashlar - Classic Cut Stone

AB - Professional & Rugged

1

AB P ro d u cts an d AB Over view 1-2

ABC o l lect io n s 3-4

P lan th e Wal l 5-6

Desig n th e Wal l 7-12

W a t e r M a n a g e m e n t 13-14

Working w ith Soils 15-16Gravity Wall Construction 17-18

Reinforced Wall Construction 19-20

Patterned Wall Construction 21-23

Stepping up the Base 24

Building Curve s 25-26Curves and Corner with Geogrid 27-28

Building Stairway s 29-32

In-Wall Planters and Terraces 33-34

Pa g e Pa g e Pa g eWater F eatu r es 35

Lighting 36

Corners 37

S tep Do wn s 38Finishing O ptions 39

Estimating Materials 40

Co u r tyard Co l lect io n 41

Table1

A B Sto ne s 12 1 sq ft. a p p rox. 75 lb s 8 in. H x 12 in. D x 18 in. L

11 blk per m 2 34 kg 2 0 0 m m H x 3 0 0 m m D x 4 6 0 m m L

A B Jum b o Jr 6 0.5 sq ft. approx. 35 lbs 8 in. H x 9.5 in. D x 9 in. L


A B Lite Sto ne 6 0.5 sq ft. approx. 35 lbs 4 in. H x 12 in. D x 18 in. L


A B Junio r Lite 6 0.5 sq ft. a p p ro x. 18 lb s 4 in. H x 12 in . D x 9 in . L

22 blk per m 2 8 k g 1 0 0 m m H x 3 0 0 m m D x 2 3 0 m m

A B C la ssic 6 1 sq ft. a p p rox. 75 lb s 8 in. H x 12 in. D x 18 in. L


EUROPA

COLLECTION

ASHLAR

CO

LLECTION

AB

COLLECTION

N a m e S e tb a c k C o v e ra g e W e i g h t A p p r o x im a t e D i m e n si o n s

A B Do ve r 6 1 sq ft. a p p ro x. 80 lb s 8 in. H x 10.5 in. D x 18 in. L


A B Pa le rm o 6 0.5 sq ft. approx. 35 lbs 8 in. H x 9.5 in. D x 9 in. L


A B Ba rc e lo na 6 0.5 sq ft. approx. 40 lbs 4 in. H x 10.5 in. D x 18 in. L


A B Bord e a ux 6 0 . 25sq f t . ap p r o x . 20 lbs 4 in. H x 10.5 in. D x 9 in. L

45 blk per m 2 9 k g 1 0 0 m m H x 2 6 5 m m D x 2 3 0 m m L

Old World Antique

Style & Performance

Actual dimensions, weights and setbac ks will vary by manufacturer. Check with your loca l Allan Block Dea ler for exac tspecifications and c olor availability. Cap s and c orner blocks are also available for eac h of the c ollections.

N a m e S e t b a c k C o v e r a g e W e i g h t A p p r o x i m a t e D i m e n s io n s

Best Single BlockChoice

Availablein

SolidColors

Availablein

Ma

rbledColors

Availablein

MarbledColors


3/22

3


4/22

Soils

Cla y soils put mo re pressure on a w all than sand y soils

be ca use they hold m oisture. Identify the soils at your site.

To identify the soils, a good test is to pick up a small handful of the

soil in the palm of your hand and squeeze it to form a ba ll. Take asample from at lea st 12 in. (300 mm) below the surfac e.

Job Site Considerations

Lot LinesYour city hall will have a c opy of your lot

survey on file. The survey will not onlyidentify property lines, but will provide anac curate scaled template of your site

to help w ith planning.

UtilitiesBuried utility lines are not only dangerous,they may prevent you from locating your

landscape project where you want.Ca ll the local utility compa nies andhave these lines marked.

PermitsBuilding permits may be required if the wall isabo ve a certain height. C heck to see whatyour loca l city code requires. A n approved

engineered wall design or an Allan Blockpre-engineered solution may be needed inorder to get a b uilding permit. Co ntact

your local AB Dealer for more de tails.

NeighborsIt's always nice (and smart too) to let your

neighbors know a bout your project be foreyou begin.

A d etailed site plan

drawn to sca le will

help foresee design

and construction

challenges and

provide an

accurate reference

for estimating.

This will become

your working or

approved plans for

the project.

Planfor Potential

Clay Soil sClay soil will stick together to form a ball.Clay soils retain moisture which will addpressure behind the walls. Typica lly mostsoils will be c lassified a s clay and ca n beused in your project. However, they

may require additional reinforcement.

Sandy Soil sSandy soil, will not stick togetherbec ause they are granular with nosilty fine particles. These soils allow for

good drainage and are ideal forbuilding walls.

Organic Soil sOrga nic soils will stick toge ther but willnot hold once the pressure is released.

They should only be used to finish off thetop 8 in. (200 mm) of a wall.

NEVER use organic soils to bui ld the wa l l .

5

Vegetati on and the Envi ronment

Existing trees and o ther vegetation c an b e designed into the wall layout as needed . Newplantings ca n be ad ded to enha nce the total landscape . Any plantings directly behind

the wall need to be d one c arefully as not to disturb any reinforcement that may havebeen added when the wall was built.

The Base or Foundat ion

You m ust bui ld on sol id g round. If your site has soft, wet soils, or if the area was previouslyexcavated, the foundations soil may need to b e replaced with good b ase materials andfirmly compac ted.

Determini ng Wall Height

A detailed understanding of the site elevations

and g rade changes are needed to determinewall heights. Starting at the lowest point, markyour grade changes in 1ft. (25 mm) incrementson the plan. Sketch in the drainage pa tterns.

Cut and Fil l

CreateAppea

Add anPatio oLiving

Build aGarden

In creasUsable

Feature

Accent

BeautiEntryw

CorrecProble

EnhanLandsFlowinStairwPlante

Imag

Poss

Sketch outyour ideas.

Fill WallLocationGrade

Grade

Reas

Land

What affects wall design?Consider the possibil i ti es.

Cut WallLocation If building on a hill or a slope, the placement of

your wall will determine how much soil will needto be removed or brought onto the site.

A "cut"site is where you cut into the hillside andremove the soil. You will need to de cide a headof time what will be done with the excess soil.

A "fill"site is where you will need extra soils to fill in

behind the entire wa ll. You will need to p lanahead to have good backfill materials broughtonto the site.


5/22

When the wal l needs Reinforcement

Allan Block wall showing

geogrid placement

Contact your local Allan Block Dealer for AB Reinforcement Grid

and detailed installation instructions.

Under certain conditions, the block weight and setback alonedo no t provide enough structural suppo rt. A llan Blocks

Reinforceme nt Grid provides a simple solution b y crea ting a

solid structure with mo re resistance to soil pressure and surcha rges.

AB Reinforce ment G rid is simple to install; just roll it out along

the wa ll on the a ppropriate c ourses for residential walls under

6 ft. (1.8 m) tall.

AB Reinforcemis availab le in 2

3 ft. and 4 ft. ro

50 ft. long (0.9 m

by 15 m). Use

page 20to find

you need and

layers your wa

The amount your w

the hill is called set

AB blocks come in a

setbacks of6 and

12 setback will pro

leverage a nd requi

forcement.

Slo p e s Surc ha rg e s Se tb a c

A slope abo ve the wall will add

more pressure and weight. Your

design should not

have a slope above

the wall greater

than 3 to 1. A slope

below the wall may

make the wall

unstable d ue to

sliding or erosion

and may require

some engineering

assistance. Contact

your loca l Allan

Block Dealer for

more information.

Any added weight above your

wall is called a surcharge.

Patios, swim-

ming pools

and d riveways

are common

residential

surcharges.

Your wall

may need

add itional support if a surcharge is

present. For commercial ap plica-

tions contac t an engineer.

See the Soil Reinforcement

Chart on page 20.

Conditi ons above and behi nd the wall wi ll determine how

the wall can be before reinforcement i s needed.

Surcharge125 psf

Slope above

Slope b elow

AB Reinforcement G rid is bi-axial

both directions) and c an be sim

along the wa ll. O ther geogrids a

(strong in only one direction) and

installed running from the front o

to the back of the excavated ar

31

M a x i m u m W a l l H e i g h t s - A B G r a v i t y W a l l s - R e s id e n t i a l A p p l .

Without excepti on your wal l and landscape

wi ll come together w ith a detail ed design.

Level

Slope 3:1

Surcharge125 psf

C ondi t ion abovel a n d sc a p e w a l l

Soil Typ e ABStones fromthe ABand Ashlar

Collec tion only

A B a n d A s hl a rCollec tion

(excep t A B S to n es)

and the EuropaCollec tion

Clay 2.75 ft 2.5 ft

0.8 m 0.8 m

Sand/Gravel 5.0 ft 3.75 ft

1.5 m 1.1 m

31

Use the c hart below to find the maximum height that the wall c an be builtbefo re reinforce ment is required. Typically most soils will be considered c lay.For sand cond itions outlined in the ta ble the soil must be a clean, g ranular

material. See pag e 5 for information on soil types and descriptions.

Table 2

The gravity wall heights shown above do not ac co unt for seismicloading. Chec k with a local engineer for assistance if you are ina seismic a rea.

Th e f i rs t step is to

determi ne if you

need a Gravi ty or

Reinfor ced Wall .

Designinga Landscape Wall

Gravity Walls

Gravity walls rely on

their own w eight and

setbac k to hold up

the soil behind them.

Rein forced Wall s

Reinforced walls use

layers of geogrid to

combine the soil and

block toge ther to form

a reinforced soil mass.

Clay 3.25 ft 3.0 ft

1.0 m 0.9 m


1.7 m 1.2 m

Clay 1.75 ft 2.0 ft

0.55 m 0.6 m


1.2 m 0.9 m

E xam p l e :

A 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall

wall in sandy soil with

a level surface above

can be built with the

AB Stones of the AB

and Ashlar C ollection

and will not require

reinforcement.Using any other block

from the Ashlar or

Europa Collection,

will require reinforce-

ment.

7


6/22

Flowing inside curvesare achieved by a

consistent spac ingbetween the backs

of the blocks asyou build.

To build smooth outsidecurves, remove one orboth of the wings onthe back of the bloc ks.

Should you

choose soft

curved walls

or classic

straight wa lls,

Allan Block

has the system

to satisfy every

design.

InsideCurves

Try to maintain at least1/4 of the block length

offset from the blockbelow a s you buildcurves. Pe rfect run-ning bond is not nec-

essary with Allan Block.

Outside c orners are c onstructed

using Allan Block Corner unitsand take more time and skill.See page 37 for informationon building with corners.

Outside Corners

EuropaCollection

A n g l es typically require customcutting o f the blocks. Try to designcurves instead. Angle d walls are

not as stable as curved walls.

Angles

Ang le Soft Curve

Ashlar

Collection

Cur ves &Serpentines

Co rne r s &Angles

Ashlar

Collection

Inside Corners

Patterned

Wa l l s

Add a whol e new dimension to your

landscape! Blend the diff erent sized

blocks together int o your wall and

capture the look of hand- lai d stone.

Try to b uild away from corners and avoid

small cut blocks at the corners.

Soft curves are easier to build than angles.

Give your landscape a dramatic

effect with the Ashlar or Abbey

Blend patterned walls from the

Ashlar and Europa Coll ections.

Choo se

our pre-

build yo

crea te

with cur

reinforc

constru

course

See pag

informa

Ashlar Collection

Ashlar

Collection

Europa

Collection

Helpful H ints

Two C ourse Pattern

Three Course Pattern

Two C ourse Lite Pattern

Three Course Lite Pattern

OutsideCurves

Inside corners are easily constructed

using standard Allan Block units. By

removing part of the lip with a chisel or

saw, the blocks can be overlapped for

a strong interlock. See page 37 for

more information.

Outside

Corner

Inside

Corner

9

Curves accent a ny landscape, a re simple to design andeasy to build. Co nsider how tight or gentle you want the

curves to be and choose the block or combination ofblocks that are best suited for your design. See the radiuschart on page 26 for more information.

Designfor Style

Europa

Collection


7/22

Design walls tha

your landscape

value. Low prof

ca n make p erf

or provide for ea

to gardening.

When designing

planting, it is impprovide enough

area to sustain p

betwe en the wa

require a ddition

be buried on the

Functionalit

Planters

Green Walls

Terrac ed walls ca n create more

usable space, tame slopes, build

raised gardens and will give your

yard a more a esthetic look.See page 33 for more

information.

A

AB Collection

Bring the ground to the gardener!

Create ea sy garden beds that are

easy to acc ess and maintain.

Plantable walls - also known as green walls - c an be

easily incorporated into your design. Planting area s are

formed b y simply stepping b ac k the wall a nd pla nting

in the exposed area. Ivy ca n also be planted at thebottom of the wall to grow up a nd co ver the blocks.

Create Lasting Value

Stair Design

Many stair design variations are possible.

Stair layout for rise and run needs to be

ca lculated with co nsideration to the stairtread that best suits your application.

Stairs can be easily designed

with flowing c urves or with

right angles. The simpleststair designs are built using

curves. Allow for extra time

for laying out and building

your sta irs. See page 29 for

more information.

Goodcompactionrequired.

UnlimitedDesignOptions

Allan Blocks patented front lip

provides a built-in edging that

not only works with Allan Block

Ca pstones but also pavers,poured co ncrete, crushed rock,

mulches and flagstones.

Ensure stair treads are secured in

place for safe use. In colder cli-

mates, salt C A N N O T be used on

the blocks or ABC apstones as it

will cause them to deteriorate.

Europa

Collection

Europa Collection

AB Collection

Timsrubber

ducky

AB Collection

11

Stair Buildi ng Basics

In-W all Planters

and Terracing

Ashlar

Collection

AshlarCollection

AB Collection


8/22

Water M anagement

Design for Water

The design and performance of most landscapewalls are based on keeping the area behind thewall relative ly dry. To ensure a qua lity projec t, thesoils used must not bec ome saturated during c on-struction a nd the final design must route water

awa y from the back of the wall. Incorporatingberms and swales into the final design is an easyway to direct surface water away.

During the design process, develope a thoroughunderstanding of the site and determine where

water will come from and how it will be properlymanaged.

During the building process, stage your materialsso surfac e runoff is not directed imprope rly. It isalso a g ood practice to co ver the infill soils and

the entire wall project at the end o f eac h day toprevent water saturation if rain is in the forecast.

Any reinforced wall or walls over 4 ft. (1.2 m) inheight or with slope s or other surcharges ab ovethe wall will need a to e drain. In all cases wall

rock is loca ted within the c ores of the block a nda minimum of 12 in. (300 mm) behind the block.The toe drain and the wall rock is designed toremove incidental water from behind the walland is not meant as primary drainage path for

above o r below grade water management.

Typical Dr ain

BermsSwales

Drains must be vented to d aylight or connec ted to a storm sewer

system and must be protected from migration of fine material.

Grading

During wall layout it is important to evaluate the entire site to determine if water willdrain into the a rea where the wall will be co nstructed. Temporary grading may beneeded to ensure wa ter will not drain towa rds the c onstruction area.

Ground Water

Ground wa ter can b e defined a s water that occ urs within the soil. Sources includesurfac e infiltration, water table fluctua tion and layers of permeable soils. Groundwater movement must be prevented from coming in contact with the wall structure,including the soils behind the wall.

If subsurface or ground water is encountered during construction, consult an engineerto ensure that the wa ter has been ac counted for in your design.

Drai n PipesSites with poor draining soils or walls over 4 ft.(1.2 m) tall will require a toe drain.

Drain pipes used in toe drain applications mustbe properly vented a minimum of every 50 ft.(15 m). To acc omplish this, vent the drain pipe

to daylight or a lower elevation on the site.

When venting to a lower elevation, it is importantthat all drain loca tions are properly marked andprotected to ensure that the drain pipe is notdamag ed or plugged. Rodent screens ca n be

used to allow the wa ter to flowthrough the outlet pipes and keepthe pathway c lear of debris.

When do I need Drain Pipes?

Follow these rules of thum b:

A l l w a l l s t a l le r th an 4 f t ( 1 .2 m )

S ites wi th poor ly draining soi ls

A lo n g si d e p a v e d a re a s

W it h sl op e s a b o v e t h e w a l l

O n m u l ti - ti e red an d te r race d w a l ls

A l l co m m er c i a l an d m u n i c ip a l p ro j ec ts

Lowpermeablegranular material

ToeDrain

Vent todaylight

Vent to a lower gr ade

Vent t hru the block face

Use a drain pipe toroute wa ter from

behind the wal l .Attach tee f i t t ingsat 30 ft. to 50 ft.(9 to 15 m ) inter -vals and d i rec t the

drains out throughth e w a l l face .

Concentrated

Wat er Sour ce

Prior to construcwall, review draand details to idpotential source

concentrated w

Examples that maccounted for a

D r i vew ays

Slopes abo

Grading of

Water l inesor f i re hydra

Roof down

Sump pump

Irrigation sy

13

Water M anagement

Where doesthe wat er go?

AB Collection


9/22

Working with SoilsThe soi ls used below and behind the wal l are a cr i t icalpa rt of the total wa l l structure. A reinforced landscape wallcontains three b asic building materials - the AB blocks, thegeogrid reinforcement, and the infill soils surrounding thegeogrid layers.

SoilsUnderstanding the proper-ty and charac teristics ofsoils is key to building bet-ter walls. Different soiltypes will dictate the

amount of time needed

for compaction, theamount o f reinforcementrequired, a nd potentially

the cost of the wa ll.

Granular soils are better to

build with than clay soils.Sand and g ravel will com-pac t better, drain better,and o ften will need less reinforceme nt. Soils are typica lly defined b ya friction a ngle or measurement of the internal strength of the soil. This angle is approximately the natural a

As soil falls off a co nveyor to make a pile, the angle it crea tes represents the natural angle of repose. Che ckqualified geotechnica l engineer to ob tain an ac curate soil classifica tion.

Soil SelectionIf the on-site soils are of a very low quality under or behind the wall, you should remove and replace them with

soils. Using stronge r soils will reduc e reinforcement, allow faster compa ction a nd have b etter long-term perfoHeavy clays and organic soils are both unsuitable in the reinforced zone and should be removed and replace

and sand with clay will require add itional ca re, and attention to water management when placed and c om

CompactionPrope r place me nt and com pa ction of the infil l soi ls is cr it ical .

The most important step in getting proper compac tion is the placement

of the soil in "lifts". Co mpa cting in lifts, or layers, of less than 8 in.(200 mm) will facilitate quality co mpaction. Placement and c ompac tionin lifts that exceed 8 in. (200 mm) will result in less than adequate soilstrength. Co mpaction equipment must be sized a cc ording to the typeof material being compa cted. Always bac kfill and co mpac t after eac h

course of block is placed. Consult with a loc al equipment supplier toensure that p roper compa ction equipment is used.

The consolidation zone runs from the back of the block bac k 3 ft. (0.9 m)

into the infill soil. Only walk behind plate c ompac tion equipment isallowe d within the consolidation zone. A minimum of two pa sses with awalk behind plate c ompac tor is required, starting on top of the bloc kand c ompac ting in paths that run parallel with the wall to the bac k ofthe excavated area.

Wall RockAB Blocks

Infill Soil RetainedSoilABReinforcementGrid

Sandy Soi ls Cl a

36

Natur al Angle of Repose

Compact in 8 in. (200 mm)lifts, onecourseat atime.

Keepall heavy equipment at laway fromtheback of theblo

Preferred Granular Infil

SS

RememberSafety alway s

comes fi rst.

Tools & Equipment you may needHAND TOO LS Safety glasses, gloves, dust mask, ear p rotection, knee

pad s, 4 level, torpedo level, tap e mea sure, string line, chisel, handtamper, dead blow hammer, shims, broom, round and square shovel.

POWER TOOLS Plate compactor, concrete saw with diamond blade,

skid loa der, transit/site level.

Job Site C onside ra tionsSit e AccessWhen planning your project, make sure youcan access your wall site with construction

equipment and mate rials. For sites withrestricted ac cess, plan out whe re you willstage and store your block, wall rock andother materials.

Wal l RockTo build a quality wall, use a clean, granular rockunderneath the base course to create a firm

foundation for your project.

Good drainageand c ompaction

will add to thequality and per-formance of yourfinished wall.

We refer to the ma terial used for the ba se, withinand behind the block as "Wall Roc k". Crushed orsmooth stone, well graded, compactable, rangingin size from 0.25 in. to 1.5 in. (6 to 38 mm) is ideal.

Your AB Dealer will have what you need.

Rental EquipmentPlate compactors, concrete saws, skid

loaders and transit levels are veryuseful when building a landscape

wall. These are availab le atmost equipment

rental centers.

15

Gett ing ReadyGett ing Ready

Al ways bu i l d on

sol i d groun d.


10/22

Install Base Course

Begin the base co urse at the low-est wall elevation. For more infor-

mation on stepping up the ba secourse see pa ge 24.

Place a ll blocks with the raisedfront lip facing up a nd forward onthe base material near the front of the base trench.

Chec k and ad just each b lock for level and alignment as it is installed. Chec k thebloc ks for level frequently from side-to-side and front-to-ba ck. Verify the proper

position of all the AB blocks by examining a string line across the back of the blocksor by sighting down the back of the raised front lip.

Make minor adjustments by tapping the AB bloc ks with a dea d blow ha mmer orby placing up to 0.5 in. (13 mm) of coarse sand under the blocks.

Irregula rities in the base co urse bec ome larger as the wall stacks up. C arefulattention to a straight and level base course will ensure a quality finished wall.

Backfi ll ing and Compaction

Fill in the area in front of the bloc ks with on-site soils. This will keep the ba se course

blocks from shifting while filling and compacting.

Fill the hollow cores of the base course and 12 in. (300 mm) behind the bloc k with

wall rock to the height of the bloc k.

Use infill or ap proved o n-site soils to bac kfill behind the w all rock in lifts of no morethan 8 in. (200 mm).

Use a plate c ompac tor to co nsolidate the wall rock directly behind the block thencompa ct in a p ath pa rallel to the wall, working from the bac k of the block to thebac k of the excava ted area with a minimum of 2 passes. See page 16 foradditional details on compaction.

Chec k the base course for level and ad just as necessary.

Every co urse after the first co urse requires co mpa ction starting on the bloc k.

Addi tional Courses

Remove all excess material from the top surface o f all blocks. This prepares aclean, smooth surface for placement o f the next course.

I f re i n fo r cem en t i s n eed ed g o to p a g e 19 to continue the instal lat ion process.

Stack the next course of blocks so that thevertical seams are offset from the blocksbelow by a t least 1/4 the length of the block.

Chec k each block for level and alignmentand ma ke adjustments as needed.

Fill the hollow c ores and 12 in. (300 mm)behind the bloc k with wall rock to the height

of the block.

Use infill or ap proved o nsite soils to ba ckfillbehind the wall rock in lifts of no morethan 8 in. (200 mm).

From the 2nd course and above use a plate compa ctor to compac t directlyon the blocks as well as the area b ehind the blocks. Co mpac t in lifts of 8 in.(200 mm) or less.

Repea ting these steps, co mplete the wall to the desired height. On the lastcourse, fill behind the blocks with organic soils in place of infill or approved on-site

soils. This will assist in any plantings above the wa ll and a lso to direct wa ter fromrunning behind the blocks. See page 39 for information on finishing wall options.

Stack theblocksin runningbondoroffset by at least 1/4 of the block

RunningBond

B

Bu i ld ing a

landscape

wa l l .

Base Preparati on

To start your layout, place stakes to represent the loca tion of the front of the wall.Using a string line or pa int, mark out the entire length. A ga rden hose is an excellenttool to use when laying out curved walls.

Exca vate the area by removing all surface vegetation a nd organic ma terials from thearea. These ca nnot be used a s backfi l l ma ter ial .

If reinforcement is needed e xcava te behind the wall to accommodate the designlength of the geogrid. Refer to your approved p lans for exac t length.

Starting at the lowest point, dig a ba se trench the length of the wa ll. For wallswhere the base trench steps up a slope see page 24 for more information.

Dig a base trench 24 in. (600 mm) wide the length o f the wall.

The depth of the trench w ill be 6 in. (150 mm) plusan additional 1 in. (25 mm) for each 1 ft. (300 mm)of wall height for the amount or buried b lockthat is needed.

Co mpac t the ba se trench making a minimum oftwo pa sses with a walk behind plate c ompactor.

Foundation soils at the bo ttom of the ba se trenchmust be f i rm and sol id. If the soils are made up of heavy clay or wet soils, or theareas have b een previously excavated, remove this material and replace w ith agranular ma terial, compa cting in 8 in. (200 mm) lifts or less.

Base Material

A drain pipe is required for any reinforced wall or any wall over 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall. Pla ce

the drain pipe at the lowest possible point toward the back of the trench and vent todaylight every 50 ft. (15 m). See pag e 14 for more information.

Place a minimum of 6 in. (150 mm) of wall rock in the ba se trench a nd rake smooth.

Co mpac t the wall rock making a minimum of two pa sses with a plate compa ctor.

Chec k the entire length for level, and ad just as needed.

Depth is6 in.(150 mm) plus1in. (25mm) foreach foot (0.3m)of wall height.

24 in.(300 mm)

wide

17

Basic Instal lationBasic Instal lation

Mark area

Excavate

Compact

Install drain pipe, wallrock and level


11/22

I nsta l l geogr id

on ever y other

cour se as needed.

Install Rein forcement

Once the ba se course is complete, begin installing the first layer of AB ReinforcementGrid by placing the edge of the geogrid against the back of the raised front lip and

rolling it out along the wa ll. Refer to your approved p lans for exac t size and location.

Stack the next course of bloc ks so that the vertical seams are offset from the blocks

below by at least 1/4 the length of the block.

Sight down the wa ll line to c heck for alignment. Blocks may be ad justed slightly toform straight lines or smooth flowing curves.

Pull on the bac k of the geogrid to remove any slack.If necessary, stake it in plac e. Never drive orcompac t directly on the geogrid. This will causedamage to the geogrid.

Backfi ll ing and Compaction

Install wall rock in the bloc k cores and 12 in. (300 mm) behind the bloc k. Use infill orapp roved on-site soils to bac kfill behind the wall rock to the height o f the bloc k.

The wall rock and infill soils behind the wall must be properly compa cted using aplate c ompa ctor. Co mpac t in lifts of 8 in. (200 mm) or less, this time starting on theblock and working in a path that runs parallel to the block and towards the backof the exca vated area. Always mak e a minimum of two pa sses wi th a plate c om-pac tor . Com pac tion should be continued to achieve sol id, move ment-free soi l.

Remove all excess material from the top surfac e of all bloc ks. This prepares a c lean,smooth surface for placement of the next course.

Addi tional Courses

Co ntinue installing your next courses of block using the steps shown above. Per yourapproved plans, install geogrid on every other course of the wall.

Using these steps complete the wall to the desired height. On the last course, fillbehind the blo cks with organic soils in plac e of infill or app roved on-site soils. This

will assist in any plantings above the wall and also to direct water from runningbehind the bloc ks. See page 39 for information on finishing wall options.

19

Geogri d Instal lationGeogri d Instal lation

Install geogrid

Install nextcourse

Backfill andcompact

Install nextcourse of b lockand layer of geogrid

SameS

trength

SameStrength

AB Stones of the ABCo l lec t ion

C O N D I T IO N

ABOV E WAL L

WALL

HE IGHTS ANDY S OILCL AY S OIL

3f t (0.9 m)

4f t (1.2 m)

5f t (1.5 m)

6f t (1.8 m)

0

2

3

4

0

3 ft

3 ft

4 ft

0

0

0

4

0

0

0

4 ft

0

2

2

3

4

0

3 ft

3 ft

3 ft

4 ft

0

0

0

3

4

0

0

0

3 ft

4 ft

2

2

3

4

3 ft

3 ft

4 ft

4 ft

0

0

0

4

0

0

0

4 ft

2ft (0.6 m)

3 ft (0.9 m)

4 ft (1.2 m)

5 ft (1.5 m)

6 ft (1.8 m)

Level

No. of Layers Width (W)

Surcharge*125psf

Slope3:1

Soil reinforcement increasesthe strength of the wall by creating a reinforced mass of soil behind the blocks. The weight of the rein-forced soil massc ombineswith the blocksfor a heavier, strongerwall. The above chart isforestimating geogrid quantitiesonly.*Forwallswith drivewaysab ove, on the last layerof geog rid, it will need to be extended b ack 7 ft (2.1 m). The geogrid must beinstalled perpendicular to the wall (rolled out from the front of the block to the back of the excava ted area).

No. of Layers Width (W)

3 ft (0.9 m)

4 ft (1.2 m)

5 ft (1.5 m)

6 ft (1.8 m)

S ANDY S OILCL AY S OIL

0

2

3

4

0

3 ft

3 ft

4 ft

0

0

3

4

0

0

3 ft

4 ft

0

2

2

3

4

0

3 ft

3 ft

3 ft

4 ft

0

0

2

3

4

0

0

3 ft

3 ft

4 ft

2

2

3

4

3 ft

3 ft

4 ft

4 ft

0

2

3

4

0

3 ft

3 ft

4 ft

No. of Layers Width (W)No. of Layers Width (W)

Soil Reinforcement Chart for Residential Wall Applications

Ashla r and Europa Col lec t ion

Rein forcement ChartMatc h your wall to the co nditions below to find which width and the number of layers ofAB Reinforcement Grid you will need . To determine the number of rolls needed, multiplythe length of your wall (in feet) by the number of layers needed, and then divide by50 (the length of a roll of geog rid). Typically most soils will be c onsidered c lay, for sandconditions outlined in the table the soil must be a clean, granular material.See page 5 for information on soil types and descriptions.

Reinforced Wall Cross Section

Inside C o

Outside C

When plaalong curvgeogrid sbac k of t

slit the geutility kniffeather oufollow theSee pagemore info

When placo rners, sgeogrid inand cut toknife. Sefor more i

OutsidCurve

InsideCurve

Tab le 3

Larger Geogrid Roll s

Large roll geogrids are strongest along the roll ormachine direction and are cut to the design

length. They are best suited for wa lls over

6 ft. (1.8 m) high.

Rollormachinedirection

AB Reinforcement Gri d

AB Reinforcement Grid is biaxial whichmeans it has the same strength in bo thdirections and can be simply rolled out

along the wa ll. It is available in 3 ft.and 4 ft. rolls and is 50 ft. long (0.9 mand 1.2 m by 15 m) and is best usedfor residential walls under 6 ft. (1.8 m)tall as outlined in the table above.

ExampleUsing a b lock from the Ashlar Collection,

a 5 ft high wall (1.5 m) built in sandysoil with a level surface above the wallrequires three layers of geogrid,3 ft wide (0.9 m).


12/22

Excavate and Instal l Base Course

The b ase c ourse should alwa ys use a full co urse of full-sized bloc ks. Thiswill speed the leveling and installation of the first course.

Refer to page 17for a detailed description on how to install the base

course. Basic steps include: site prep and excava tion, installing basematerial, base course, wall rock, backfill materials and compacting.

Install Rein forcement

Check your approved plans for exact size and course

loca tion for the ABReinforcement Grid.

Install the first layer of geogrid by placing the edge ofthe geogrid against the back of the raised front lipand rolling it out along the wall.

Install the M ult ipl e-Course Pattern

The example shown here uses a 2 course pattern.

See page 23 for more information on pattern options.

Stac k the first course of the pattern on top of the

geogrid and the base c ourse.

Check bloc ks for level, and make adjustments as needed. Pull on the bac k of thegeog rid to remove any slack. If necessary, stake in plac e.

Install the wall rock in the block cores and 12 in. (300 mm) behind the blocks to theheight of the bloc ks.

Compac t inside the block cores using a shovel handle. Check bloc ks for level.See page 22 for more information on compaction in the block cores.

Use infill or approve d on-site soils to bac kfill behind the wa ll roc k in 8 in. (200 mm)lifts or less. The top of the bloc ks will not alwa ys matc h up with eac h lift of soil.Chec k blocks for level.

Using a p late compac tor, compa ct the wall rock and infill materials behind the blockin 8 in. (200 mm) lifts or less. Compac t directly behind the bloc ks in a path pa rallel to

the wall, working from the back of the wall to the back of the excavated area.Always make a minimum of two passes with a plate compactor.

Install the remainde r of the 2 course pattern. Install wall rock in the block cores andbehind the blocks as before so they are level with the top co urse of the bloc ks. Useinfill or approved on-soils to backfill behind wallrock. Che ck bloc ks for level. If using a custom

pa ttern, remember to offset the vertical seamsby at least 1/4 of the block whenever possible.

With the first multiple-co urse pa ttern completed,use a plate co mpactor to compac t the wall rockin the block cores and directly behind the blocks.

The first pass of the plate compactor should be

directly over the top of the block cores.

Compac t in a pa th parallel to the wall, working from the front of the block to thebac k of the excava ted area. Make a minimum of two passes with a plate com-pac tor. Check blocks for level.

NOTE: Kee p al l heavy equipme nt at least 3 ft . (0.9 m) a way from the b ac k of the wal l .

Install the Second M ult ipl e-Course Pattern

Refer to your approved plans to determine if reinforcement will be required. If so,repeat the previous process to install geogrid between the patterns.

Install the next pattern section a s done in the previous steps. Each add itional pattern

will need to be offset from the pattern below to a void a repetitive look. Rememberto offset the vertical seams by at least 1/4 ofthe bloc k whenever possible.

Two c ourse pa tterns should be selected formost projects. Three course patterns ca n beused for gravity walls or to top off a reinforced

wall where ge ogrid is not required within thetop three c ourses.

Ending and Topping off the Wal l

Finishing a p atterned wall is the same as finishing a standa rd wall. See page 39 forfinishing wa ll options. The only requirement is that a multiple course pattern must be

completed so that the top course of the blocks forms a level surface.

On the last course, fill behind the b locks with organic soils in plac e of infill or

approved o n-site soils. This will assist in any pla ntings above the wall and alsoto direct water from running behind the blocks.

Ashlar

Collection

EuropaCollection

Bi-Axial A B

ReinforcementGrid

Compacti ng Patterned Wall s

Compaction in the block coresneeds to be done regularly whenworking with patterned walls. Thiscan be done by using the end of a

shovel to c ompac t the wall rock,add ing add itional rock if nec essary.

At eac h 8 in. (200 mm) lift, compa ctthe block c ores with the end of ashovel, and the area directly behind the block w ith a platecompa ctor per the proced ures described in this guide.

At the c onclusion of eac h pa ttern, the top of the w all will be level.Run the plate c ompac tor over the top of the bloc ks to c onsolidatethe wall rock. Place g eogrid if required, and begin the next pattern.

Combining Patterns

3CoursePattern

2Course

Pattern2CoursePattern

BaseCourse

Offset by at least1/4 of theblock

Pattern Section

Pattern Section

21

Patterned WallsPatterned Walls

Add d is t inct i on to

you r lan dscape.I

Com

Insta

Install geogrid

Install first course of patternon top of g eogrid

Install wall roc k


13/22

Buil ding Step-ups in to the Slope

When building step-ups, begin the base co urse at the lowest wall elevation.

Dig a base trench that is 24 in. (600 mm) wide.

The dep th of the trench is determined by allowing for 6 in. (150 mm) plus anadd itional 1 in. (25 mm) for eac h 1 ft. (300 mm) of wa ll height for the amount orburied block that is needed . The trench also needs to extend into the slope fa r

enough to b ury one full block.

If a slope is present below the wall, contac t a loc al engineer for assistanc e.

Compa ct and level the base trench making a minimum of 2 passes with a

plate co mpactor.

Place the drain pipe at the lowest possible point toward the back of the trench.

Place a minimum of 6 in. (150 mm) of wall rock in the base trench and c heck

for level. Co mpac t the base material, making a minimum of two pa sses witha plate c ompactor.

Exca vate the seco nd step up making sure to ac commoda te for the base materialand buried block. Compa ct and level the step-up area.

Place the ba se course of blocks on the base material and chec k for level.

Fill the hollow c ores and 12 in. (300 mm) behind the b lock as well as the ba se areaof the next step up with wall rock then backfill with infill or approved on-site soils.

M ak e su re th a t th e b l o cks an d th e b ase o f th e n ext s tep -u p ar e l eve l .

Compact the wall rock directlybehind the block a nd the nextstep up area a minimum of twopasses with a plate c ompac tor.

Repeat these steps to the top ofthe grade.

Keep in mind the block at eachstep-up must be c ompletely buried to maintain the properbase dep th and to prevent wall failure due to erosion.

AB Collection

Al lan Block w al

ver sati le wi th pr

performance.

Stepping up the BStepping up the B

Wal l PatternsBoth the Ashlar and Europa Collections ca n be used to create a va riety of pre-set and random pa tterns. A pre-set patternis repea ted every two or three c ourses of bloc k. A single course co nsists of a full size block, ap proximately 8 in. (200 mm)high. Random patterns used on a reinforced wall require a level surface every 2 courses for proper installation of geogrid.Chec k your approved plans for geogrid plac ement.

Note: Wal ls with curves should a lways use the 2 c ourse pa ttern to minimize cutt ing and f i t ting.For wal ls requir ing geogr id use the 2 c ourse p attern to al low for prope r geogr id plac em ent.

3 c ourse For straight wa lls only or wa lls with no ge ogrid2 c ourse

3 c ourse2 c ourse

Standard Patterns - Uses all blocks in the collection.

Lite Pa tterns - Uses the small blocks in the collection.

Note: Ma ximum rec omm ende d gravity wall height for Lite Patterns is 3 ft.

6 AB Dover4 AB Palermo8 AB Barcelona8 AB Bordeaux

Europa Collection

v6 ABClassic4 AB Jumbo Junior8 AB Lite Stone8 ABJunior Lite*

Blocks

Required

10 AB Dover10 AB Palermo10 AB Barcelona4 AB Bordea ux

Europa Collection

10 ABC lassic10 AB Jumbo Junior10 AB Lite Stone4 ABJunior Lite*

Blocks

Required

7 AB Palermo15 AB Barcelona12 AB Bordeaux

Europa Collection

7 AB Jumbo Junior15 AB Lite Stone12 ABJunior Lite*B

locks

Required

14 AB Palermo19 AB Barcelona18 AB Bordeaux

Europa Collection

14 AB Jumbo Junior19 AB Lite Stone18 ABJunior Lite*B

locks

Required

Note: A ba se course of ful l size blocks (ABClass ic or AB Dover) needs to be inc luded. For each 10 f t . (3 .0 m) o f wa ll length you w ill

need 7 ful l size blocks . For 10 ft . (3 .0 m) of wa ll length for ABC apstones , you w ill need 7 AB Cap s.

*Use an ABLite Stone cutin half to createan AB Half Lite ifABJ uniorLite isnot available.

*Use an ABLite Stone cutin half to createan ABHa lf Lite ifABJ uniorLite isnot available.

Patterns are 10 ft. sections (3 m)

Patterns are 10 ft. sections (3 m)

Tips for Buildi ng Patterned Wal lsPatterned walls resemble hand-laid stone walls, and will require a certain level of detailand c raftsmanship to construct. Some custom fitting of bloc ks will be required. Plan ontaking a little extra time to build, particularly when building one for the first time.

Ending Patterned Wall sPatterned wa lls may be ende d with step-d own or turn-ins. When end ing apatterned wall you will need to modify the pa ttern and randomly adjust asnecessary to create the look desired.

Curves

When building curves, the 2 course pattern is easier to work with than the 3 course pattern.To build tighter inside or outside curves see page 26.

Additi onal Construction Tips When building a n Ashlar Blend wa ll, if an AB Junior Lite is not ava ilable, the AB Lite Stones

must be c ut to produce 2 AB Half Lites. Pre-cut the de sired number of bloc ks to helpspeed installation.

Offset each new pattern from the pattern below to maintain the random appearance.

With walls that have numerous inside and outside curves, use a 2 course pattern toease the installation process.

Ending Patterned Wal ls

Cutting ABlock In Half

23

16 in .

( 4 0 0 m m )

16 in .

( 4 0 0 m m )24 in .

( 6 1 0 m m )

24 in .

( 6 1 0 m m )

Patterned Walls Cont.Patterned Walls Cont.

AB or AshlarCollection





14/22

Buildi ng Curves

Curved a nd serpentine walls are simple to build. AB's pa tented de sign allows for

easy installation of both inside and outside curves. Most curves ca n be b ui lt w i thno cutt ing involved.

Try to maintain an offset of the vertica l seams by at least of the block lengthfrom the co urses below. Cutting a bloc k in half or using the AB J umbo J unior orthe AB Palermo, will assist in crea ting a prop er offset.

Before constructing your wall, layout the design using a garden hose or paint.Mea sure the radius of each c urve and refer to the rad ius cha rt. Select blocks that will fit your design or adjust yourdesign to fit the blocks you have selected . As a rule, gentle sweep ing curves produce more ae sthetically pleasing walls.

Inside CurvesTo build a flowing inside curve,

keep the front of the blockstight together and fan out theblocks keeping the spac econsistent between the ba cksof the bloc ks.

Outside Curves

To build smooth outside curves, remove one or both ofthe "wings" from the back of the blocks and tighten theradius of the curve. To ob tain a c lean break, hit the bac k ofthe wing with a hammer.

Flow in g cur ves

accent any lan dscape.

InsideCurve

Keepa consistentspacing.

Removewingsfor outsidecurves.

Keepthefrontof theblocktight together.

Offset by at least 1/4 of theblock

Ashlar Collection

25

Curved Wal lsCurved Wall s

OutsideCurve

Buildi ng Tighter Curves

Use the AB J umbo J unior or theAB Palermo whenever possible to

build tighter curves within the wall.

When using full size b locks, it maybe necessary to remove parts ofthe bottom notch to fit the blockscloser together.

S ee a l lan b l o ck . co m fo r m o re d e ta i l s on b ui lding t ighter curves.

Cutting The Bottom N

For Tighter Outside C

Arreof

Area of notchto removeonbottomof block

Cuttin g The Bottom N otch

For Tighter Inside Curves

Use this chart to find the minimum

recommended rad ius at base of t

Determini ng the RadiusThe tightest or smallest radius at the top of any AB wall using the full

size b lock is 4 ft. (1.2 m), and 2.5 ft. (0.8 m) using the ha lf width blocks.

Curved walls have a greater setback which c auses a coning effectto occur which in turn creates the need for a larger radius at theba se course. The final height of the wall will determine what theminimum radius at the ba se course must be. Use the Radius Chart todetermine what the radius of the base course of the wall needs tobe, so the top co urse of the wall will not be less than 4 ft. (1.2 m).

Startin g the CurveFrom the point of where the curve will start, measure straight backfrom the wall the required amount (shown in the Radius Chart) and

drive a stake into the ground.This will be the center of the

curve. Attac h a string line tothe stake the length of theradius and rotate it aroundto mark the location of the

ba se co urse. Install the blockswith the front of the blockslining up with the mark.

To transition the curve bac k into a straight wall or another curve,lay out the curve and the first couple blocks of the next section.Adjusting 1 or 2 of the blocks will help in the transition of thenext section of wall.

For a t ighter , smoo th curve, use the AB Jumbo Junioror the AB Palermo bloc ks to help bui ld the curve.

AB Stones(Approx. 12)

ABC lassic ,AB Rocks, AB LiteS to n e, ABDo ve r

an d ABBar celo n a

(Approx. 6)

ABJu m b o Ju n io r ,ABP aler m o ,

AB Junior Lite andABBo r d eau x(Approx. 6)

CenteTopcourseradius4.0 ft. (1.2m)

ABClassic4 ft. (1.2m) tall

AB Collection

5.25 ft 5.5 ft 5.7

1.6 m 1.7 m 1.7

3 ft 4 ft 5 0.9 m 1.2 m 1.

4.9 ft 5.1 ft 5.3

1.5 m 1.55 m 1.6

3.4 ft 3.8 ft 4.2

1.0 m 1.16 m 1.2

AB Radius Chart for Base CSetba ck Wal l Heigh

3 ft 4 ft 50 .9 m 1 .2 m 1


15/22

Worki ng Wi th I nside Curves and Geogrid

Geog rid needs to have 100%co verage around any c urve.To ac hieve this, additional layers need to be installed

abo ve the c ourse where the g eogrid is requiredto fill voids that are created.

Roll out the AB Reinforcement Grid behind the w all,keeping the edge of the geo grid tight against thefront of the bloc ks. Voids will appea r between thepieces at the ba ck. Trim the geogrid to fit alongthe front lip of the blocks.

Mark the blocks or take note of the a reas where

the voids are in the geogrid plac ement.

On the next co urse of b lock, p l ace g e o g r ido ver th e m ar ked ar eas co ver i n g th e vo i d s.

On p atterned walls, fit the grid throughthe coursing as best as possible to fillthe void from the c ourse below.

Additional geogridlayer placedon next courseto eliminategapsfromcoursebelow.

Primarylayer

Trimgeogridtofit curveMark

blocksTopView

Work ing Wi th Outside Curves and Geogrid

Roll out the AB Reinforcement Grid around the

curve. Trim to fit along the front lip of the bloc ks.

Lift the section of geogrid that overlaps and

plac e infill material to separate. Geog rid layersneed to be separated by a 3 in. (75 mm) layer ofinfill or approved on-site soils.

N ever co m p ac t d i rec t l y o n th e g eo g r id .

Geog rid must cover the entire curved area.

TopView

Trimgeogridtofit curve

Geogridlayersneedtobeseparatedbya 3in. (75mm) layer of approvedfill.Lift thearea of geogridupandplacein

thefill material toseparatethe layers

Placesoilbetween thelayers

Gent le sw eepi ng cur ves

create aestheti cal ly

pleasi ng wall s.

Additional geogridlayerson next course

Europa

Collection

27

Curves with Geogri dCurves with Geogri dIn stall ing Geogrid on In side 90Corners

On inside corners additional geogrid is required to extend past

the end of the wall 25%of the completed w all height.

Roll out the AB Reinforcement Grid behind the b locks,keeping the edge of the geo grid tight aga inst the front lip ofthe blocks. Extend the geogrid pa st the inside co rner by atleast 25%o f the wall height in one d irection.

On the next course of block where geogrid is requiredextend the geogrid past the inside corner in the opposite

direction. Never place g eogrid directly on top of

another layer of geog rid.

EXAM PLE:Finished wall height is 6 ft. (1.8 m), divide by 4 whichequa ls 1.5 ft. (0.45 m).

The length the geogrid will need to extend past the

corner is 1.5 ft. (0.45 m).

In stall ing Geogrid on Out side 90Corners

Each side o f the c orner must be reinforced independentlyfrom eac h other.

Roll out the ABReinforcement Grid to the outside corner in

one direction. Never plac e geog rid directly on top o fanother layer of geog rid.

On the next course of block where geogrid is required, lay

the next layer of geogrid perpendicular to the previous layer.Using AB Reinforcement Grid you will not need a layer ofgeogrid on every course due to its bi-axial strength.

For more information on cornerconstruction see pa ge 37.

Location of 1strequiredlayerof geogrid.

Location of 2ndrequiredlayerof geogrid.

Thelength of geogridthat extendspast thewall, 25%of theentirewall height.

Location anddirection of 1strequiredlayerof geogrid.

Location anddirectionof 2ndrequiredlayerof geogrid.

Geogrid w it h Ou tside 90Corn

Geogrid w it h Inside 90Corner

Ashlar Collection

Corners wi th GeogCorners wi th Geog


16/22

Plan, designand bui ld steps

in to you r wa l l .

Al lan Bl ock Wall Systems offer a

vari ety of options for stair ways.

Break up longsets of steps

with landings.

Drop in a turn

and a landingto break

the stair line.

Includeswitchbacksto let youmeander up

the hill.

Tackl e Your Slope

Match your stairway design to the naturalgrade of your slope.

On steep slopes, keep the blocks tight together.With Allan Block, you get an 8 in. rise and a12 in. run. (200 mm rise and a 300 mm run).

On gentle slopes, add pavers or other materialsto increase the depth of the tread and lengthof the run.

Landings can soften a long stairway and provide

an easy way to tie sets of steps together.

Al ways check l oca l coderequireme nts before bui lding

any type of stair appl ication.

The steps shown here are generalguidelines for building stairways. Byunderstanding the basic installation

elements, stairways can be easilyincorporated into the wall installation.

Stairs can be designed with flowing curves or straight lines.Curved sidewa lls crea te a softer, natural look. Straight

sidewalls and corners offer a crisp, traditional style;however they require AB Co rner Blocks and take moretime and custom cutting to build.

Drain Pipe

If drain pipe is being usproject, continue it behat the lowe st point of e

Do not interrupt the drastair locations.

Salt f or Ice Remo

In northern climates theon stair tread materials

concrete is NOTrecom

the salt will cause the bdete riorate. Use sand

How M any Steps?To find the number of steps needed,measure the total rise of your

slope in inches and divideby 8 in. (200 mm) - theapp roximate height

of a block.

Rise - 48 in.(1220 mm)

48 in. 8 in. =6 steps

AB CollectionAB Collection

Take Time to Buil d In Quali tyBuilding stairs and steps requires careful planning, flexibility on the job site and an eyefor detail. Be sure to allow ad equa te time for layout and building of stairs.

Determine Stair Ri ser LocationsOnce the number of steps has been d etermined and the type of stair tread has beenselected, exca vate the stair loc ation based on the rise and run.

Mark the center of the stairway where the ba se stair riser will be p laced .In this example the first stair riser is the continuation of the ba se course of the wallthat the stairs are being built into.

Each stair riser will need a minimum of 6 in.(150 mm) of base material under it that extendsa minimum of 6 in. (150 mm) behind the AB block.

Ma ke a djustme nt as need ed so that the f i rst r iseris not more than 8 in. (200 m m) high w i th stai r

tread mater ial and f inal grading in place.

Excavate the Base Trench and Stai r Location From the base stair riser loca tion mark the remainder of the stair risers and remove

the soil to meet the base material requirements. If more soil was removed tha nnecessary during excavation, replace it with wall rock during the building process.Any excavated soils that are replaced w ill need to b e properly compac ted. Iforganic or wet soi ls are present in the base trench they must be removed andreplaced wi th granular mater ial .

After the stair location has been exca vated, you will prepare your base and b asecourse just like any other wall. Use the information on page 17to dig a base trenchto the appropriate size.

Co mpac t the ba se trench making a minimum of two passes with a plate compa ctor.

If a drain pipe is required in your project, continue the placement of the pipe in thetrench for the base course. See page 17 for more information on placement.

Place a minimum of 6 in. (150 mm) of wall rock in the ba se trench a nd rake smooth.

Co mpac t the wall rock making a minimum of two pa sses with a plate compa ctor.

Chec k for level, and a djust as needed. See page 17 for more information.

In stall the Base Course Place the blocks with the raised front lip facing up

and ne ar the front of the trench.

Chec k eac h bloc k for level from side-to-side andfront-to-ba ck. Verify the proper position of the basecourse by examining a string line across the backof the blocks. Ma ke adjustments as nece ssary.

Fill in the area in front of the bloc ks with on-site soils. This will keep the b ase courseblocks from shifting while filling and compacting.

Fill the hollow cores and at least 12 in. (300 mm) behind the blocks or more toaccommodate the next stair riser with wall rock.

29

StairwaysStairways

Install

drain pipe

Excavate

Backfilland compact

Install

base course

Installand compactwall rock

AB Collection


17/22

Use infill or approved on-site soils to fill in anyadd itional areas behind the wall rock. Thestair tread area must be level with the top ofthe base c ourse of b locks.

Use a plate compactor to compact the wallrock starting directly behind the block a ndworking in a path p arallel to the wall, work-ing from the ba ck of the b lock, over the stairtread area, to the back of the excavated area.Alwa ys compac t in 8 in. (200 mm) lifts or less.See page 16 for details on c ompac tion.

Install First Stair Riser Measure the distance for the placement ofthe first stair riser making sure tha t the b locksare parallel with the base course in front.Place the blocks on top of the compactedstair tread area making sure to allow for 6 in.(150 mm) of wall rock behind the blocks.

To ensure the bloc ks will be level with the c orresponding wall, placea bloc k on the wall as a reference p oint and level from that blockto the blocks being used for the stair treads.

Level and adjust as necessary.

To curve the wall out from the stair location, break the wings off the backs of theblocks and p lace then tight together, following the layout on your approved p lans.

Backfi ll and Compact

Fill in the area in front of the first stair riser with a small amount of wall rock. This willkeep the blocks from shifting while filling and compacting.

Fill the hollow cores and at least 12 in. (300 mm) behind the blocks or enough toaccommodate the next stair riser with wall rock.

Then compac t and level the wall rockas previously done.

Addit ional Steps

Repeat these steps for each stair riser.

Once all the steps are in plac e, installthe selected stair tread material to finishyour stairway.

ABCapstones ABCapstoneandPavers

Pavers Concrete

Stair Appl ications

Additional stair designs and technical information explaining the construction process is availableon our website at allanblock.com or from your local Allan Block Dealer.

R em em b e r to a l w ays c h eck th e l o ca l b u i l d in g c o d es b e fo re co n str uct i o n.

Un l im i t ed

D esign O pt ions

Ashlar

Collection

AB Collection

Stair Tread Opti ons

Allan Blocks patented front lip provides a built-in edging that wo rks well with AB Ca pstones,pavers and poured concrete.

When using a rigid dimension tread material such as AB Ca pstones or landsca pe pa vers,ca refully plan the stair dimensions to reduce the a mount of cutting required. Ensure stairtreads are secured in place with a high strength construction adhesive for safe use.

31

Stairways Cont.Stairways Cont.

Align firststair riser

Backfill andcompact

Install nextstair riser

Install wallout fromstairs

Backfill andcompact


18/22

Straight wall s

create a formal,structured look.

Flowing curves

have a morenatural feel,

provide plantingareas and createa softer look.

Irrigation is oftenincluded when inco rporating a planter. Ensure

that your plan includes provisions for watermanagement.

Design the Shape for Beauty and Function

Co nsider what will fill the spac e betwe en terraced w alls. Will it be used for plantings, filled with decorative rock orcovered with sod? Terrac ed wa lls provide built-in edgingthat minimizes trimming and maintena nce . Design theshape of terraced walls to compliment the surrounding

architecture and landscape.

Landscape designs are often more a ttrac tive when theyinclude smaller, terraced, or in-wall planters rather than one

large wall. Terrac edwalls can createmore usable spac e,

build raised gardens,help prevent erosionand add interest toyour landscape.

I n ha rmony w i th na tu re.

OneLarge Wall

In-Wall Planter

Europa

Collection

Ashlar Collection

Ashlar Collection

AB Collection

AB Collection

33

In-Wall Planters/TerracesIn-Wall Planters/Terraces

Other areas that w il l

requir e engineeri ng are:

Sl o p e s a b o v e o r b e l o w th e w a l l s Wal ls closer than 2 t imes the

height of the lower wa l l. P re s e n c e o f g ro u n d w a t e r Su rc h a r g e s Bad soi ls

As the upper wall moves closer to thelower wall, it adds pressure (surcharge)

to the lower wa ll.

The lower wall will needto be engineered toacc ount for the added

weight and pressure,and extra reinforcementmay be required.

When the walls are spaced farenough ap art they are

engineered as twoindependent w alls.

The height of theupper wall shouldbe less than or equal

to the height of thelower wall.

The distance between the walls must be a tleast twice the height of the lower wall.

Usethis simpleequation todetermineif engineeringreviewis required:H22H1

Always Build on Solid Ground

The most important element in building terrac es is

soil compa ction. Building on poor, uncompa ct-ed soil will result in settling of the upper walls.Although lower terraced walls are typically builton solid ground, upper walls are often built onsoils that have been disturbed in the construction

process. To ensure the stability of these soils, theyshould be removed down to solid ground andca refully reinstalled and co mpacted .

To ac hieve proper compac tion there are twodifferent methods that work well. O ne way is to

remove soft or poor soil and replace them withwall rock and compact in 8 in. (200 mm) lifts.Anothe r way is to compac t the soils in shorter lifts.When using infill or approved on-site soils, we

recommend no more than a 4 in. (100 mm) lift.Goo d c ompac tion is the key to minimizingsettlement over time.

8in. (200mm) lifts

Com(100

Impr oper Compaction - U pper Wal l Sett

Proper Compaction - U pper Wall Performs

Terraces and Structur e

Building a series of wa lls on a slope requires careful planning. Follow this simple set of rules:


19/22

Lighting

Lighti ng Adds a Dramati c Effect to All an Block Wall s

Lighting brings new possibilities to a ny landscape. Add a d ramatic look with

ground mounted lighting or illuminate stairways and pathways with recessed

lighting. Allan Block wa lls with dec orative lighting fixtures provide not only adistinctive design, but adds safety and security to the landscape.

Allan Block's patented hollow c ore design

makes it easy to add lighting into anywall. Simply run the wiring directly behindthe AB blocks (follow loc al electricalco des) to the light loc ations. Use a

masonry saw to cut out sections of theblock to accommodate the lightingfixture and run the wiring through theblocks out to the light fixture.

Lighting Options

Water in the Landscape

Water features turn an ordi nary landscape int o a peaceful oasis

They can provide a soothing retreat and a bea utiful focal point within your

overall landsca pe. Water features ca n attract birds and othe r wildlife. The

sound of trickling water c reates a plac e o f quiet serenity and a sense o f privacy.Ponds and Fountain s Bring th e Landscape to Life

Landscape w ater features can also be a ctive and exciting, like a waterfall

ca scad ing over a natural roc k formation. The sight and sounds of water-in-motion, flowing, spilling or casca ding, can be a dramatic landscapeenhanc ement. Splashing fountains shimmering poo ls no matter how simpleor elaborate, water features can a dd a new dimension to your landscape.

Installation N otes

Flexible plastic liners provide built-in support for ponds.

Plastic liners can be used for free-form ponds and wa ter features. However,these features will transfer water pressure to the surrounding wa lls. Yourlandscape wall design must ac count for the ad ded pressure.

Pond with a Hard Liner Pond with a

Soft Liner

SandBags

Cast a soft pool oflight with a wallmounted light fixture.

Add soft general

lighting with arecessed light fixture.

Illuminate

pathways andgarden accentswith a pathwaylight fixture.

Silhouette

accentedlandscapefeatures witha bullet lightfixture.

AshlarCollection

AB

Collection

Europa

Collection

Europa

Collection

Beauti ful lan dscapes

made easy by design.

Accent your lan dscape

w i th d i st i nc t ion .

35

Water FeaturesWater Features LighLigh


20/22

Corner Details

Whenever possible we recommend using curves instead of cor-ners for a smooth flowing look to your landscap e. Our example

uses an AB Jumbo J unior, but can be used with any block.

Inside CornersStandard bloc ks are easily modified to build inside corners. You will need a conc retesaw with a masonry blade to make the necessary cuts (a good chisel will work too).

Using your saw or chisel, remove the raised lip from one bloc k, and the left thirdfrom another. Set them in plac e at the beginning of the base co urse.

Locate the ad joining wall so that the raised lip on the modified bloc k is lined upwith the raised lips on the oppo site wa ll. Finish installing the entire base c ourse inboth directions.

Mod ify two more bloc ks, this time remove the raised lip from one b lock, and the

right third from another. Use these blocks to start the second course.

Continue the process to the top of the wall, alternating as you go.

Cut ca ps at 45 degree angles to co mplete the inside

corner and give the wall a custom finished look.

Outside Corners

AB Corner Blocks are all you need to make an outsideco rner. Alwa ys build your walls by starting at the corners

and working out. Set the first corner block in plac e and install the two p erpendicular base

courses. Level, bac kfill and co mpact.

Place a n alternating corner block on the second course and set the entire secondcourse of block in both directions. Level, bac kfill and compa ct aga in.

Repeat as often as needed to the top of the wall.

Cut ca ps at 45 degree angles to complete the outside corner and givethe wall a custom finished look.

Gai n u sable space

and create new

l i v in g areas.

Modifiedblocks

Modifiedblocks

Europa Collection

37

CornersCorners

End your w al l

w i th ease.

Steppin g Down

One of the unique benefits that sets Allan Block apart from other wall systems is a great variety of options fostepping down wa lls. With Allan Block, you can turn wa ll ends into the hillside with smooth flowing c urves, costep-downs. No othe r wall system gives you as many choice s for finishing off your wall projec t.

Turn-insThe simplest and easiest method of ending

wall is to use smooth flowing curves that turthe hillside.

For agradual step-down, usehalf-high blockseither theABLiteStoneor AB Barcelona.

For astep-down that doublesasa planter,turn thewall in 2or 3blocksafter theAB Corner Block.

For afull coursestep-down, usetheABCorner Block.

Createa soft endingtothewall by usingan insidecurvewhilesteppingdown.

Tip:Walls with ends thatturn back into thehillside help preventerosion behindthe wall.

For agraceful, flowingendtothewall, curvthewall tocreatea plantableareathat cansoften thelook of thewall.

For adramaticendusetheAB Corner thewall back intotSeepage24 for infsteppingup thewal

For anatural flowintothelandscapecurvethewall back intothehillside. Tip:

The benefitwall back ininclude:

lesstito bu

no co

super attrac

AB Co

Step DoStep Do

f


21/22

A B C a p s to n e s

Capping Wall s

Allan Block Capstones are availab le to finish the top of the wall. The raised front-lipprovides a perfect built-in edging where you can simply use rock, mulch, grass orplanting soil to complete the wall with an a ttrac tive, natural look.

Capping Corners

Cut caps at 45 angles to complete the

outside corner. It's a good idea to secure caps with a

high strength construction adhesiveonce they are all cut.

45 45

x2

x2

x

Tighter Curves

Place two caps on the wallwith the back of each cap

tight together. A ga p willappea r in the front.

Measure the distance of thegap between the 2 caps (x)at the front of the wall.

Measure out this distance (x/2)on the back of each of thecap and mark.

Draw a line from the mark to

the front corner.

Use a masonry saw to cut

each cap.

Capping Curves Place two caps on top of the wall, spaced so a

third cap will fit tightly between their widest point.

Set another cap on top of the first two caps and

mark where they overlap on the bottom of thecenter cap.

Remove the center cap and cut along the marks.

Set the middle cap ba ck in place so the three fittightly together.

Repeat as often as needed to ca p the entirecurve.

It's a good idea to secure caps with a high strengthconstruction ad hesive onc e they are all cut.

AB Collection

AB Collection

AB Collection

Fin i sh your w a l l

wi th sty l e.

39

Finishing OptionsFinishing Options

PlantingM ater ia ls

L an d scap eRock

Finish your wall withplantings or mulchin place of caps.

N u m b e r o f A B D o v e r b lo c k s nWall Height Wall Length

5 ft(1 .5m)

1 0 f t(3 .0m)

2 0 f t(6 .0m)

3 0(9 .0

1 course 8 in . ( 2 0 0 m m ) 4 7 14 21

2 course 16 in. ( 4 0 0 m m ) 7 14 28 41

3 course 24 in. ( 6 0 0 m m ) 11 21 41 62

4 course 32 in. ( 8 0 0 m m ) 14 28 55 82

5 course 40 in. (1 .0 m) 18 35 69 10

6 course 48 in. (1 .2 m) 21 41 82 12

To swi tch to AB Palermo b locks,d o u b l e th e n u m b er s sh o w n ab

C apstones 4 7 14 21

C orner B locks1for each course that steps1for each course with a corn

Note: Ca pstones add 4 in. (100 mm) to your toCornersshould alternate with left and right

Numbe r of ABBa rc e lona bloc k sWall He ight Wall Length

5 ft(1.5m)

1 0 f t(3.0m)

2 0 f t(6.0m)

3 0(9.0

2 co urses 8 in. ( 2 0 0 m m ) 7 14 28 4

3 courses 12 in. ( 3 0 0 m m ) 11 21 41 62

4 courses 16 in. ( 4 0 0 m m ) 14 28 55 82

5 courses 20 in. ( 5 0 0 m m ) 18 35 69 10

6 courses 24 in. ( 6 0 0 m m ) 21 41 82 12

7 courses 28 in. ( 7 0 0 m m ) 24 48 96 14

To switch to AB Bordeaux b locks,doub le t he num be rs s how n a b

C apstones 4 7 14 2

Note: Ca pstonesadd 4 in. (100 mm) to your to

Numb er of ABStone or AB Classic b locks neededWall Height Wall Length

5 ft(1.5m)

1 0 f t( 3 . 0 m )

2 0 f t( 6 . 0 m )

3 0 f t( 9 . 0 m )

4 0 f t( 1 2 . 0 m )

5 0 f t( 1 5 . 0 m )

1 course 8 in. ( 2 0 0 m m ) 4 7 14 21 28 35

2 course 16 in. ( 4 0 0 m m ) 7 14 28 41 55 69

3 course 24 in. ( 6 0 0 m m ) 11 21 41 62 82 103

4 course 32 in. ( 8 0 0 m m ) 14 28 55 82 109 137

5 course 40 in. (1 .0 m) 18 35 69 103 137 171

6 course 48 in. (1 .2 m) 21 41 82 123 164 205

To switch to AB Jumbo Junior blocks, simplydoub le t he num be rs s how n a b ov e .

C apstones 4 7 14 21 28 35

Corner Blocks1for each course that stepsdown.1for each course with a corner.

Note: Ca pstones add 4 in. (100 mm) to your total wall height.Co rnersshould alternate with left and right hand blo cks.

Numb e r of AB Li te Stone B loc k s ne e d e dWall Height Wall Length

5 ft( 1 . 5 m )

1 0 f t(3.0m)

2 0 f t(6.0m)

3 0 f t(9.0m)

4 0 f t(12.0m)

5 0 f t(15.0m)

2 courses 8 in. ( 2 0 0 m m ) 7 14 28 41 55 69

3 courses 12 in. ( 3 0 0 m m ) 11 21 41 62 82 103

4 courses 16 in. ( 4 0 0 m m ) 14 28 55 82 109 137

5 courses 20 in. ( 5 0 0 m m ) 18 35 69 103 137 171

6 courses 24 in. ( 6 0 0 m m ) 21 41 82 123 164 205

7 courses 28 in. ( 7 0 0 m m ) 24 48 96 143 191 239

To switch to AB Junior Lite block s, simplydoub le t he num be rs s how n a b ov e .

C apstones 4 7 14 21 28 35

Note: Ca pstonesad d 4 in. (100 mm) to your total wall height.

Eu ro p a C o l lec tio n

Estimatin g the Number of Bl ocks Needed

Allan Block ma kes it easy to estimate materials. Use the Estimating Cha rtsbelow to quickly estimate the a moand ca pstones that will be needed for your landsca pe wa lls up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) high.

You can also use the Estimating Wheelor the Estimating Softwareto calculate the block as well as the amount omaterials, drain pipe and A B Reinforcement Grid needed to c omplete the project. Ca ll or visit your local Allan B

for this handy Estimating Wheel or go to allanblock.comto dow nload the FREE Estimating Software.

AB Wheel AB Estimating Software

Most municipa l ities require perm its for wal ls over 4 ft. (1.2 m). Conta ct your loca l AB Dea ler, ci ty buofficial or a loca l enginee r for assistance .

For wa l ls over 3 ft. (0.9 m) tal l , we typica l ly reco mm end tha t you use the largest blocks within the c

For informatestimating pawal ls from the

and Europa Co

se e p a g e

AshlarCollect ion

A BCollect ion

E d Y O td Li i R


22/22

Al lan Bl ock has the

sy stem t o sati sfy

ever y desi gn

Al lan Bl ock has the

sy stem t o sati sfy

ever y desi gn.

Expand Your Ou tdoor Li vi ng Room

Enhance the beauty of your home with Allan Block. From elab orate designs to

simple ga rden wa ll projects the possibilities are endless. Whe ther you are building

your dream home or improving your current surrounds, you ca n trust Allan Block.

Our distinctive products and experienced peop le ca n make your vision a reality.

The Possibil

are Endless

Allan Block has b

used in thousand

unique applicat

throughout the w

For more informa

visit our web site

allanblock.com

full library of pho

and instructiona

Contact your lo

AB Dealer for

product availab

Ashlar Collection

AB Collection

Eur

Old Country Courtyardand the Europa Collection

Cour t ya rd and AB Wa l l s

Combined: U nl i mi ted

Possibi l i t ies.

41

Courtyard Coll ectionCourtyard Coll ection

Create Elegant, Beautif ull y Textured Wal ls

Frame your pa tio. Crea te a seating wall, pool surround

or entry monument. The design possibilities are endless.

Co mbine AB Courtyard walls and Allan Block landscapewalls to crea te stunning landsca pes. The interlocking

blocks easily fit together without mortar or pins.

Simplicity, quality and lasting value. You get it

all with the AB Co urtyard C ollection.

From elaborate patio enclosures to simple weekend

projects, the AB C ourtyard C ollection allows you to

easily create beautiful and durable stone-like structures.

This versatile system can meet any design need. Create

elegant and stylish surrounds with old world charm for

any landscape.

Expand your home to the outdoors

Enhance the beauty and value of your home

Make a design statement

See allanblock.com for information.

Old Country Courtyard

Old Country Courtyard

Documents

Landscape by Allan Block 2006